Divisible container



July 6, 1937. A. FERRI-:TON

DIVISIBLE CONTAINER Filed Jan. 25, 195el Patented July 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PjissraN'r OFFICE ansatz? DIVISIBLE CONTAINER Arnold Perreton, Durham, N. H.

Application January 25, 1936, Serial No. 60,760

14 Claims.

ing the cover and collapsing the main receptacle portion thereof or,i said container may be divided progressively by tearing both receptacle and cover portion laterally and longitudinally thereof upon scored or perforated lines positioned to align with the spaces between the adjacent sides of the small receptacles located therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cover of novel construction and sub-divided to provide separable individual cover portions for the small receptacles while they are located within the main receptacle and also after they have been removed therefrom.

Still another object of the invention is to pro- -vide means for gripping the individual cover portions for the small receptacles while portions of the main cover of which they form a part are being torn therefrom.

The invention consists in a divisible container as set forth in the following specification and particularly as pointed out in the claims thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a divisible container embodying my invention and disclosing the exterior thereof.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view .of the container illustrating an end of the main receptacle partly opened and collapsed, and a portion of the cover torn away to facilitate the removal of small receptacles which are located within the main receptacle.

Fig. 3 is a detail transverse section of the container taken upon the line 3-3 of Fig'. 2.

Fig. 4 is an underneath plan view of a portion of the joint cover for the large and small receptacles.

Fig. 5 is a. perspective view illustrating the under side of an alternate type of individual cover member for the small receptacles and which is attached to the under side of the cover for the container and forms a part thereof.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

In thev drawing, 5 represents a main receptacle. 6, 6 are small auxiliary receptacles located Within the main receptacle and 1 is a cover for the main receptacle and also for the small receptacles. The main receptacle 5 is constructed of a. single piece Aof sheet material, preferably pasteboard, folded to provide opposite side walls 8, other opposite side walls 9 and a bottom I0. In folding the sheet material to form the side walls 8 and 9, folds II are formed at the corners of-the receptacle, said folds being folded backwardly against the walls 9 and held thereagainst by downwardly folded flap portions I2 formed as extensions of said walls 9 and caused to adhere to the folds Il andto the walls 9 by a plastic adhesive material I3 located upon the under side of said flap portions. The adhesive material I3 is preferablyV of a type that remains both plastic and adhesive indefinitely both before and after it is utilized to secure the folds I I and ap portions l2 against the side walls, and said adhesive material may be applied directly to the `under side of the flap portions or, it may be located upon a strip of suitable paper or fabric tape which in turn may be applied directly to the under side of the flap portions. When the folds Il are secured in folded position against the side walls 9, the folds II and flap portions I2 act to reinforce and stiffen said side walls. The flap portions I2 terminate in pulling tabs I4 which have no adhesive material upon their under surfaces and consequently do not' adhere to the side walls 9 and in opening the container these pulling tabs I4 are pulled outwardly in a manner hereinafter to be more fully described.

The sheet material of which the receptacle 5 is constructed is scored or perforated longitudinally thereof at I5 and transversely thereof at I6 at locations that align with the spaces between the adjacent side walls of the small receptacles 6. Notches I5 and I6' are 4also provided in conjunction with the scored lines I5 and I6 to facilitate the tearing ofthe sheet material, and in removing the small receptacles from the container the sheet material of the receptacle 5 may be torn upon these notched and scored lines, if it is so desired. The cover 1 is constructed of sheet material I1,

` preferably thin pasteboard or heavy paper reinforced upon its under side by another piece of relatively thicker sheet material I8. The sheet material I1 is folded to provide opposite side flaps I9 and other opposite side flaps 20 provided upon their under sides at 2| and 22 respectively with adhesive material similar to that previously described as being utilized upon the flap portions I2, and said flaps I9 and 20 are adapted to be secured by said adhesive to the flap porceptacle 5. 'I'he flaps I9 and 2II terminate in pulling tabs 23 and24, and in removing the cover 1 from the receptacle 5 these tabs are pulled upwardly to disengage the flap portions I9 and 20 of the cover 1 from the portions of the receptacle 5 to which they adhere.

The sheet material I1 of the cover 1 is scored or perforated longitudinally thereof at 25 and transversely thereof at 26 at locations which align with the scored lines I5 and I6 respectively upon the receptacle 5. 'I'he sheet material I8 is secured to the under side of the sheet material I1 by a suitable adhesive, and said material I8 is provided with longitudinally and transverselycxtending grooves 21 and 28 respectively upon its under surface which align with the scored lines 25 and 26 respectively of the sheet material I1. The grooves 21 and 28 tend to weaken the material I 9 of the cover 1 above the spaces between the adjacent auxiliary receptacles 6, and in removing said cover from the receptacle 5 the sheet material I1 may be torn at the scored lines 25 and 26and the sheet material I8 will tear at the grooves 21 and 28.

The receptacles 6 may be of any desired construction, but preferably they are formed of sheet material folded to provide si'de walls 29 and a bottom 38 and are open at the top. When these receptacles 6 are in position in the main receptacle 5 the top edges of the side walls 29 thereof project into the grooves 21 and 28 and consequently the portions 3I of the sheet material between the grooves 21 and 28 project downwardly a short distance into said small receptacles as illustrated in Fig. 3.

To facilitate the tearing of the cover 1 it is desirable that said cover may be held firmly above the small receptacles 6 and with this end in view linger openings 32 are provided in said cover above each small receptacle 6, and between these openings are gripping portions 33. Sheet material 34, preferably transparent, is secured to the under side of the cover 1 across the openings 32. 'I'he sheet material I8 reinforces the material I1 of the cover 1 at the finger openings 32 and gripping portions 33, and when said cover is torn upon the scored lines 25 and 26 to provide individual covers for the small receptacles, the stifl' sheet material I8 projecting into the smallreceptacles holds said individual covers in position.

The container of the present invention is particularly designed to receive pieces of comb honey and certain other food products or substances which are usually wrapped in thin sheet material which is often difficult to remove therefrom, particularly if the substances are of a sticky nature. Small pieces of these foods preferably for individual servings are placed in the small receptacles 6 and the latter are packed in the main receptacle 5, and the cover 1 constitutes a joint cover for the main receptacle and small receptacles, the

portions 3| of said cover projecting a short distance into the open top of the small receptacles. 'Ihe cover 1 is sealed to the main receptacle 5 by the plastic adhesive material'located at 2| and 22 upon the under side of the ilap portions I9 and 20 respectively, but this material remains plastic and adhesive indefinitely and the ilap portions may be sealed and unsealed as desired.

In opening the container several methods of procedure may be followed.v` For example, if it is desired to remove all of the small receptacles 6 at the same time, the cover 1 may be removed in its entirety by pulling outwardly and upwardly 2,085,87 ,tions I2 and side walls 8 respectively of the reber of pulling tabs upon the pulling tabs 23 and 24 and unloosening the flap portions I9 ceptacle 5. At this time the flap portions-` I9 and and 2l from the main re- 20 and top of the cover 1 may be torn upon the scored lines 25 and 26, and the flap portions torn from the cover at the corners to provide individual covers for the small receptacles. 'I'he main receptacle 5 may then be collapsed by grasping the pulling tabs I4 simultaneously at both ends of the receptacle and pulling outwardly in opposite directions upon said tabs thereby unloosening the flap portions I2 from the side walls 9 and folds II, causing the latter to be unfolded and the end portions of the receptacle to be opened and its entire structure to be totally collapsed.

If it is only desired to remove one or two small receptacles 6 together with their contents from the main receptacle withoutl disturbing the remaining small receptacles, the necessary num- 23 and 24 are grasped and pulled and the cover 1 torn upon the scored lines 25 and 26, and one or more of the pullingtabs I4 of the main receptacle 5 are grasped and pulled and the ap portions I2 `and side walls 8 and 9 torn upon the scored lines I`5 and I6 and at the corners of the container and also across the bottom thereof as may be necessary to permit the removal of the desired number of small receptacles. In tearing the cover 1 it may be found advantageous to grasp the separable cover portions at the finger openings 32 and gripping portions 33 with one hand while tearing the cover with the other hand. Afterthe receptacles 6 have been removed from the main receptacle 5 the severed portions of the cover may be utilized as individual covers for the small receptacles.

The various flap portions I2, I9 and 20 maybe fastened and unfastened to the adjacent surfaces of the container as may be necessary ordesirable as the plastic adhesive material upon their rear surfaces will retain its plastic and adhesive qualities indefinitely. I

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated an alternate cover member 35 for the small receptacles 6, there being a separate member 35 provided upon the under side of the cover 1 for each receptacle 6 and adapted to project thereinto. 'I'he member 35 is formed of pasteboard and a surface 36 thereof is secured to the under side of the sheet material I1 of the cover 1 by a suitable adhesive. 'I'he under side of the member 35 is grooved at 31 to make it easily bendable and said under surface is covered with a piece of sheet material 38 preferably transparent. Finger openings 39 are provided in the member 35 thereby forming gripping portions therebetween which may be grasped in exactly the same manner as the gripping portion 33 previously described. In grasping a cover 1 having a plurality oi' members 35 embodied therein in lieu of the single piece of sheet material I8 there will be a tendency for the individual members 35 to buckle upwardsat the gripping portion 40 when it is grasped and a firmer grip may be obtained thereon.

vI claim:

1. A container formed of sheet material and,

having side walls and a bottom portion embodied therein, certain of said side walls having outwardly and downwardly folded pulling tabs' embodied therein and said side walls being scored to permit tearing upon predetermined lines when said tabs are pulled.

2. A container formed of sheet materiaL and having side walls and a bottom portion embodied therein, opposite side walls having outwardly and downwardly folded flap portions adhering thereto terminating in pulling tabs and said side walls being notched and scored to permit tearing upon predetermined lines when said tabs are pulled.

3. A container formed of a single piece of sheet material folded to provide side walls and a bottom portion, opposite side walls having outwardly and downwardly folded flap portions adhering thereto terminating in pulling tabs and said side Walls being scored to permit tearing upon predetermined lines when said tabs are pulled.

4. A container formed of sheet material and having side walls and a bottom portion embodied therein, certain of said side walls having outwardly and downwardly folded pulling tabs embodied therein and all of said walls being scored to permit tearing upon predetermined lines when said tabs and said side walls are pulled.

5. A container formed of sheet material and having side Walls and a bottom portion embodied therein, certain of said side walls having outwardly and downwardly folded pulling tabs embodied therein and said side walls being scored to permit tearing upon predetermined lines, and a cover provided with side iiaps adapted to adhere to said side walls, said cover being scored to permit tearing upon predetermined lines and in alignment with the scoring upon said side walls.

6. A container formed of sheet material and having side Walls and a bottom portion embodied therein, certain of said side walls having outwardly and downwardly folded pulling tabs embodied therein and said side walls being scored to permit tearing upon predetermined lines when said tabs are pulled, and a cover provided with side aps adapted to adhere temporarily to said side walls, said cover being grooved and scored to permit tearing upon predetermined lines, said side flaps terminating in pulling tabs.

7. A container formed of a single piece of sheet material folded to provide side walls and a bottom portion, opposite side walls having outwardly and downwardly folded flap portions adhering thereto terminating in pulling tabs and said side walls and iiap portions being scored to permit tearing upon predetermined lines, and a cover formed of sheet material and adapted to adhere temporarily to said side walls, said cover having pulling tabs embodied therein overlying certain of said first-mentioned tabs and the cover being scored to permit tearing upon predetermined lines when said tabs thereon are pulled.

8. A container formed of a single piece of sheet material folded to provide side walls and a bottom portion, opposite side walls having outwardly and downwardly folded flap portions adhering thereto terminating in pulling tabs and said side walls and flap portions being scored to permit tearing upon predetermined lines, and a cover formed of sheet material and adapted to adhere temporarily to said side walls, said cover having finger openings, gripping portions and pulling tabs embodied therein and being scored to permit tearing upon predetermined lines, certain of said last-named pulling tabs overlying said first-named pulling tabs and adapted to be pulled in unison therewith.

9. A divisible container of the character described comprising. in combination, a main receptacle, a plurality of open auxiliary receptacles within said main receptacle, and a joint cover for said main receptacle and auxiliary receptacles, said cover being scored longitudinally and transversely thereof to permit tearing in both directions upon predetermined lines, whereby it may be divided into separate covers for said auxiliary receptacles.

10. A divisible container formed of sheet material and comprising a main receptacle, a plurality of open auxiliary receptacles within said main receptacle, and a joint cover for said main receptacle and auxiliary receptacles, said cover being adapted to adhere temporarily to said main receptacle, scored longitudinally and transversely thereof to permit tearing in both directions upon predetermined lines, and having pulling tabs embodied therein, whereby it may be divided into separate covers for said auxiliary receptacles when said tabs are pulled.

11. A divisible container formed of sheet material and comprising a main receptacle, a plurality of open auxiliary receptacles within said main receptacle, and a joint cover for said main receptacle and auxiliary receptacles, said cover being provided with depending portions upon its under surface adapted to project into said auxiliary receptacles and being scored to permit tearing upon predetermined lines, whereby it may be divided into separate covers for said auxiliary receptacles.

12. A divisible container comprising a receptacle constructed of sheet material and scored longitudinally and transversely thereof to permit tearing upon predetermined lines, a cover of sheet material for said receptacle, and a plastic adhesive material upon said cover adapted to temporarily seal the cover to the receptacle, said cover having pulling tabs embodied therein and being scored longitudinally and transversely thereof to permit tearing in alignment with the scoring upon the receptacle when said tabs are pulled.

13. A divisible container comprising a main receptacle constructed of sheet material scored to permit tearing upon predetermined lines, a plurality of individual auxiliary receptacles within said main receptacle, a joint cover for said main receptacle and auxiliary receptacles constructed of sheet material and having finger openings and pulling tabs embodied therein, said cover being grooved and scored in alignment with the scoring upon said main receptacle whereby it may be divided into separate individual covers for said auxiliary receptacles, and a permanent plastic adhesive to seal the cover to the main re ceptacle.

14. A divisible container comprising a main receptacle constructed of sheet material scored to permit tearing upon predetermined lines, and having outwardly and downwardly folded pulling tabs embodied therein, a plurality of auxiliary receptacles within said main receptacle, a joint cover for said main receptacle and auxiliary receptacles, said cover being provided with depending portions upon its under side adapted to project into said auxiliary receptacles and being scored in alignment with the scoring upon the main receptacle to permit tearing in unison with the main receptacle and having pulling tabs embodied therein overlying certain of said firstmentioned tabs whereby it may be divided to provide individual covers for the auxiliary receptacles, and means to seal the cover to the main receptacle.

ARNOLD PERRETON. 

